Monday, January 18, 2016

Just in

WASHINGTON–The U.S. Department of Agriculture invites public comment on the draft update of the Department's Environmental Justice Strategic Plan. The four-year plan establishes goals to increase outreach and participation by historically underserved communities for the years 2016-2020 and outlines the ways each USDA agency plans to accomplish them.

"This revised environmental justice strategy builds on the existing USDA plan by addressing resilience in the context of climate change, improving access to USDA financial and technical assistance programs through the StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity, and other outreach to underserved communities," said USDA Deputy Undersecretary Arthur 'Butch' Blazer. "We encourage feedback on this USDA Environmental Justice Strategy and look forward to hearing from the people impacted by our policy decisions."

USDA works to meet the needs of historically underserved communities by reducing environmental burdens and increasing access to environmental benefits that help make all communities safe, vibrant, and healthy places to live and work. USDA is committed to achieving environmental justice throughout every community in America.

To meet its goals and deliver measurable results, USDA staff periodically update the strategic plan outlining key priorities and tactics to increase capacity building, public participation, and opportunities for minority, low-income, American Indian and Alaska Native Communities, and Tribal governments.

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Jake Putnam grew up on a farm outside of Portneuf Gap, Idaho. Along the way he taught tennis, taught at a junior high school, worked on a newspaper, and spent 13 years as a broadcast reporter. While reporting he met kings, and movie stars, covered the Statehouse, flew in fighter jets and nearly got burned up in the great Yellowstone fire. He has an Emmy and two nominations to his credit. Putnam now writes for the Producer and Quarterly magazines, and the Farm Bureau News blog.